Professional confidence often begins long before a student shakes hands with a recruiter. At Marshall University, two upcoming events are designed to remove the uncertainty that keeps many students from stepping into professional spaces: Suit Up at JCPenney and the Spring Career Fair.

The JCPenney Suit Up event will be held on Feb. 22 from 3-6p.m.

Jennifer Brown, the assistant director for student engagement and marketing in the Office of Career Education, said both initiatives focus on preparation and the confidence that follows.  

“Your career development starts as soon as you step on campus,” Brown said. “You want to start building your network before you need your network.” 

The Spring Career Fair will take place on Feb.25 from noon until 4 p.m., and will bring more than 110 employers to campus, recruiting primarily for internships and full-time positions along with some part-time roles. While seniors often view career fairs as urgent, Brown emphasized freshmen and sophomores have just as much to gain. 

“It’s a good opportunity for them to start practicing and getting comfortable and being in those networking situations,” she said. “If you hear 125 companies, you might be completely overwhelmed.” 

Brown described the event as a low-stakes learning environment. Employers are prepared to meet students at all class levels. A freshman might arrive in jeans while a senior may wear a suit, and that difference is expected. 

“It’s that opportunity for them to come and learn, see what it’s like and take the scariness out of something like that,” she said. 

Preparation plays a major role in how students experience the fair. Through Handshake, students can register, preview attending employers, review company descriptions and see which recruiters will be present. They can also “star” companies they plan to visit, which notifies recruiters in advance. 

“That already puts you ahead,” Brown said. 

Rather than approaching a booth without direction, students can reference their research. 

“You want to say, ‘I was doing some research on your company. I really love your mission and vision. Could you tell me a little bit more about the positions that you have available?’” Brown said. “The recruiters are going to eat that up.” 

For students who feel unsure of where to begin, the Office of Career Education distributes a Career Fair Prep Guide that includes suggested questions organized by class level, room layouts and preparation strategies. Staff members are also available during the event to review resumes, practice elevator pitches or even walk students to employer tables.  

“The only way to get ahead of feeling behind is to start,” Brown said. 

The Office of Career Education is partnering with JCPenney at the Huntington Mall to offer up to 40% off professional attire for students, faculty, staff and alumni. The event includes discounts on suits, skirts, pants, shoes, belts, ties and accessories. Career education staff will be available for guidance, and store employees will provide measurements for custom suiting. 

“Sometimes, a student feels like maybe they don’t have proper attire to wear to the career fair or an interview,” Brown said. “This is an opportunity for students to come and get a discounted professional wardrobe.”  

For students who need additional assistance, the office also serves as a referral site for Dress for Success and Hire Attire, organizations that provide professional clothing at no cost through an application process. Brown said professional appearance influences first impressions.  

“In the first 30 seconds, it could tell how organized you are,” she said. “If you go in and dress the part, you’re going to feel more confident to then be able to talk more confidently about yourself.” 

If she had to describe the career fair in one word, Brown would choose “opportunity.” 

“We’ve had students who come to the career fair, get an internship, and then it’s a direct pipeline into a full-time job,” she said. 

Together, Suit Up and the Spring Career Fair aim to reduce intimidation, increase preparation and give students the tools and the mindset to walk into professional spaces ready to succeed.

Jimmy John Jacob can be contacted at [email protected].